Meet Dominique Hernandez

May 5, 2015

Please tell us of an artist, curator, activist, or project that has influenced you or inspired you?

The work of the woman of color I organize with are my ongoing inspiration for artwork and life in general. I also have been inspired by the works of Jane Alexander’s “Surveys (From the Cape of Good Hope)”; Andre Kertesz’s “Distortions” and Oswaldo Guayasamin.

Please tell us about a place in your neighborhood that is personally meaningful to you, and why?

The local supermarket I used to work at for 5 years is perhaps the must meaningful place in my neighborhood for me. I started working there since age 17. It became my first “real” job that took me working “out of the books”. It is also the work that sustained my college education. Working there led me to grow roots in Ozone Park at a moment where I had been detached from my geographical home in Ecuador. As I was striving to find “success” away from Ozone Park, working all weekends and holidays helped me build a relationship with my neighbors. Not the kind of relationship that you know each other’s names, but the one that I know your kids and you know my parents. The kind that we can see each other in the street and say “Hi” knowing that we are safe.

What is your favorite book, film or song about NYC?

I do not have a favorite book, film or song about NYC. But a song that speaks about NYC that I grew up listening to is “Un Verano en Nueva York” by Puerto Rican band El Gran Combo. It is a great song to dance to!

If you have an idea of a blog post or topic you’d like to contribute to our blog, please share below!

I do not think I am at the stage of writing a piece on this, but I always wanted to write about the institutionalized perception of art and organizing and how that perception is actually the non-profit industrial complex and white supremacy stealing from the survival work of communities of color and then selling it back to us. I am sure a black woman already probably wrote about this.

(718) 574–0798

For questions about how to navigate The Laundromat Project venues during the course of programs, exhibitions, and installations, and to address any other access accommodations, please contact The Laundromat Project offices by phone at (718) 574-0798 (Monday—Friday, 10:00am—6:00pm) or by email at info@laundromatproject.org.